State Parks

South Dakota gets a bad rap as a flyover state. An often overlooked travel destination, South Dakota is a land of breathtaking scenic beauty. Here’s the thing, visit South Dakota once and the place SELLS ITSELF. Much more than just the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, and the Badlands, SoDak is the most […]

South Dakota gets a bad rap as a flyover state where everybody thinks folks commune with cows and don’t know what an internet is. But it’s also one of the most underrated states period, and you need only to visit the west side of the state for proof. The words “South Dakota” don’t exactly conjure up […]

The Black Hills of western South Dakota have long been a favorite of RVers. We came to this area to explore the natural side of the Black Hills—the plants and animals, geology, and natural history that existed before the trappers, miners, and homesteaders came—and we weren’t disappointed. Driving an RV in the Black Hills is […]

Federal Hill is the centerpiece of My Old Kentucky Home State Park. The house has been restored to its mid-19th century appearance and young women guides, dressed like Scarlett O’Hara, lead tours. Built between 1795 and 1818, Federal Hill, the home of Judge John Rowan, became a part of the Kentucky State Parks System on […]

An isolated mountain range located in the western edge of South Dakota, the Black Hills is full of scenery, rich history, and tons of family fun. Nestled among the prairies of the upper-Midwest, you’ll find majestic granite spires, pine covered peaks, and unique rock outcroppings. While discovering off-the-beaten-path treasures, the inherent thread of Wild West […]

Custer State Park in the beautiful Black Hills of western South Dakota is full of lush forests, quiet and serene meadows, and majestic mountains. Few truly wild places remain in this country. Custer State Park is one of them. Thirty to sixty million bison once roamed the great plains of North America. By the close […]

While America’s 59 national parks may get all the glory and the Ken Burns documentaries, nearly three times as many people visit the country’s 10,234 state park areas each year. Spanning a total of more than 18 million acres across the US, America’s state parks take up the equivalent land area of 13.6 million football […]

About a million new households have come into camping each year since 2014. Much of that growth is coming from Generation X campers and Millennials, and even teens have a great outlook toward the future. The growth over the past several years in the camping market also reflects a diversity of racial and ethnic groups […]

Visitors traveling along I-10 in southern Arizona can’t miss the prominent 1,500-foot peak of Picacho Peak State Park. Enjoy the view as you hike the trails that wind up the peak and, often in the spring you’ll overlook a sea of Mexican gold poppies and other wildflowers. The park and surrounding area are known for […]

Everyone has lists and seldom do any two lists agree. But lists can be interesting fodder for discussion, argument, and sometimes agreement. Some readers will wonder why I omitted some extra-popular beauties like the cedar waxwing, wood duck, blue jay, northern cardinal, meadowlark, bluebird, and painted bunting. Sorry, but sometimes a bunch of bling—I’m looking […]